Cubs Will Stay With Baker

Chicago Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry said Thursday that he would stick with Dusty Baker as his manager for the rest of the season.

“As far as the rest of the season goes, I let Dusty know today that he would be staying the rest of the year,” said Hendry.

“There won’t be any discussions or questions to be asked about extensions now or anything like that. But I let him know that the next couple months, I felt it was best for the club that he complete the season and not worry about that.”

Baker is in the fourth and final year of his contract for the Cubs, who are 40-61 this season.

*

Barry Bonds didn’t play in San Francisco’s 6-5 loss to Washington, and he’s not sure whether a mildly strained right hamstring will keep him out of the lineup today. Bonds probably would have sat out because it was an afternoon start after a night game. But Manager Felipe Alou said Bonds told him he wouldn’t be available to pinch-hit.... Relief pitcher Esteban Yan signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, and was assigned to triple-A Omaha.